[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 140 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39455-39456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18701]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 10, 15, 90, 98, 125-134, 170, 174, and 175

[USCG-1999-5951]


Offshore Supply Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces a public meeting to discuss 
potential revisions to its Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) regulations. 
The meeting will focus on the possible establishment of International 
Tonnage Convention (ITC) tonnage values for OSVs; additional standards 
for larger OSV including licensing and manning; and standards for 
crewboats as a new category of OSVs. The Coast Guard encourages 
interested persons to participate by providing oral or written 
comments.

DATES: The meeting will be held on August 26, 1999 from 9 a.m. to 1 
p.m. The meeting may close early if all business is finished. Written 
comments and related material must reach the Docket Management Facility 
on or before September 21, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in 12th Floor Conference Room, Room 
1242, Eight Coast Guard District Office, Hale Boggs Federal Building, 
501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130-3396.
    You may submit your written comments and related material by one of 
the following methods:
    (1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, (USCG-1999-4974), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (2) By hand to Room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif 
Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    (3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251.
    (4) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management 
System at http://dms.dot.gov.

[[Page 39456]]

    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
notice. Comments and documents, as indicated in this notice, will 
become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or 
copying at Room PL-401 on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the 
same address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. You may electronically access the public docket for 
this notice on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning this notice 
or public meeting, contact Mr. Jim Magill, Project Manager, Office of 
Operating and Environmental Standards, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 
telephone 202-267-1082 or LT Charles Srioudom, Office of Operating and 
Environmental Standards, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, telephone 202-
267-2498. For questions on viewing, or submitting material to the 
docket, contact Dorothy Walker, Chief, Documentary Services Division, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages you to participate by submitting 
comments and related material, and by attending the public meeting. If 
you submit written comments, please include your name and address, 
identify the docket number for this notice (USCG-1999-XXXX), indicate 
the specific section of the Federal Register notice announcing this 
meeting to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each 
comment. You may submit your written comments and material by mail, 
hand, fax, or electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at the 
address under ADDRESSES; but please do not submit the same comment or 
material by more than one means. If you submit them by mail or hand, 
submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, 
suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail 
and would like to know they were received, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.

Information on Service for Individuals with Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the public meeting, 
contact LT Charles Srioudom at the address or phone number under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible.

Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard published a final rule entitled ``Offshore Supply 
Vessels'' on September 19, 1997 (62 FR 49308). Since the publication of 
this rule, industry identified a need to determine a tonnage 
breakpoint, appropriate additional standards for larger OSV including 
licensing and manning, and to bring crew boats under the regulations as 
OSV. The purpose of this notice is to receive public comments 
pertaining to OSVs of 500 gross tons (U.S. Regulatory Tonnage) but less 
than 6,000 gross tons (ITC).

Areas of Concern

    The Coast Guard invites comments pertaining to OSV regulations from 
interested persons. To help facilitate a productive public meeting, we 
offer the following subjects for consideration; interested persons may 
address meeting attendants with additional comments:
    (1) What ITC tonnage value should be considered as equivalent to 
the present 500 gross tons (U.S. Regulatory Tonnage) value as the 
breakpoint between large and small OSVs? Does the figure of 3,000 gross 
tons (ITC) make good logic as it ties in with the STCW threshold value?
    (2) Is there a need to establish regulations for conventional OSVs 
to carry more than 36 offshore workers, given the fact that the revised 
regulations will bring crew boats carrying up to 150 offshore workers 
under subchapter L? The new revision could also establish regulations 
for liftboats allowing more than 36 offshore workers onboard while 
jacked up.
    (3) Would the establishment of dual certification to meet OSV and 
crewboat regulations make sense? This could, for example, allow dual 
certificated OSVs to carry unlimited fuel, maximum 36 offshore workers 
on one leg of a voyage, and carry more than 36 offshore workers under 
the crewboat regulations on the return leg of the voyage.
    (4) Should OSVs of 500 gross tons (U.S. Regulatory Tonnage) but 
less than 6,000 gross tons (ITC) meet the requirements of 46 CFR 
Subchapter L and additional requirements from Subchapter I (Industrial 
Vessels) that are applicable to OSVs carrying less than 36 offshore 
workers?
    (5) If OSVs of 500 gross tons (U.S. Regulatory Tonnage) but less 
than 6,000 gross tons (ITC) abide by both Subchapter L and Subchapter I 
requirements, what structural fire protection, fire detection, and 
lifesaving equipment should be required to maintain vessel safety?
    (6) If OSVs of 500 gross tons (U.S. Regulatory Tonnage) but less 
than 6,000 gross tons (ITC) abide by both Subchapter L and Subchapter I 
requirements, what accommodations should be provided for offshore 
workers assigned to the vessel for more than 24 hours? and
    (7) Discussion is invited as to whether we should retain the 
current regulatory licensing structure for Masters and Mates up to 
3,000 gross tons (ITC) and add a new licensing structure for over 3,000 
gross tons (ITC) OSVs, requiring more training and experience?

    Dated: July 15, 1999.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 99-18701 Filed 7-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P